Let me (and others!) know what your favorite budget hiking gear would be! And remember this is part 2! The first video talked about how to get gear for free or very cheap
The army "waffle top" ECWS is a really really warm grid fleece that can be found for very cheap. I loved mine. Mine was free, but I have seen them for as little as $5-10 at a surplus store.
The majority of my gear is much older and much heavier than yours. Having said that, it's held up really well. My Eureka Timberline tent from 2005 is still very serviceable. My North Face Blue Kazoo down sleeping bag from 2000 is just about as good as ever (had to recondition it once or twice and shift the down to be more evenly distributed in the baffles, but worth the trouble). I use the same Nalgene water bottle that my wife got during her first pregnancy (14 years ago) to have something BPA free to drink out of. I'm on my second ridge rest sleeping pad- got the first in 1993. I've had the same MSR Whisperlite stove since 1996- those things are just about indistructible. Same thing with a stainless steel MSR cook pot. I'm not prone to blisters, but I carry duct tape just in case. It's handy for a footwear blowout. Probably the most minimalist piece of gear I carry, the one way I seem to do better than you, is a pair of Xeroshoes DIY sandals- at least in warmer weather. Not sure exactly how much they weigh, but they're completely field serviceable (I can complete any repair short of them being shredded, which is unlikely given the material, in a matter of minutes with a multitool, a hole punch, and extra paracord) and they're laced in such a way that I can wear socks underneath them. Most repairs won't even require the whole punch or extra paracord. Oh yeah, a multitool is an indispensible piece of gear. I carry a Leatherman Wave that I bought back in 2000 just about every day. It can be used to repair sandles, trim nails, prepare food, as a pot grip, to pull splinters, and as a makeshift weapon among other things.
There is a neat trick when you have a neck gaiter that you can make it into a beanie by putting the "tube" on your head and twisting the fabric left over ontop, making the whole thing kinda look like a hourglass, and then threading it over your head once more. This way you will be wearing the neck gaiter over your head twice and the hole ontop will be closed from the twisting of the fabric.
I think I look most forward to your videos because you have such a great depth of practical experience, your comments are no-nonsense, and you seem like a genuine dude. But more than anything, I think you’re a magician because your pack is always so small and you pull out so much. One of these days you’re going to pull out a kayak and I won’t be surprised. On the other hand, I put my food bag in my pack and there is no more room for anything else.
The links provided add a lot of value to the overall presentation - great for sussing out new or alternative gear. Thank you for taking the time to assemble the list 😃
You've made a small funny typo with the banana instead of bandana. And if all you've got is a banana, then going with the most budget gear seems quite logical. Hehe.
Always interesting, Jupiter. Your attitude towards hiking, gear, attitude on the trail, and your sheer joy of being out there, make your videos so worth while. Thanks.
Nice man. I am a hiker and i dont care about gear. I use Fun-park plastic ponchos. I take 3 for a total weight of about 4OZ. Entirely wind proof/ water proof, and I don't do long hikes, just massive 24 hour ones.
You can also use a thin fabric neck gaiter for the desert. It helps protect against the sun and heat. And you can also put some water on it and it will help cooling you down.
First time ever trying trekking poles I bought the Cascade. Love them, cork handles, tip protectors, snow basket, serviceable and good positioning locks. I got aluminum on purpose because carbon fiber can be brittle in cold temperatures. I fell on snow and bent the bottom section. Bent it back and still going.
Outstanding list! One tent that has seriously impressed me is the regular ol' Lanshan 1 with the solid inner. I am a serial modifier of my gear and its the first tent (even out of $800 DCF tents) that I haven't found a niggle that I have felt that I needed to modify. I am going back to hike the CT again this summer and I am going to bring the Lanshan
Finally! Someone recommends a plastic spoon. I actually have one of the long handle metal spoons that everyone else buy, but it mostly stay home. I see it's useful if you mostly use freeze dried meals directly from the packaging. For me who basically use cheaper meals I eat from a pot a plastic spoon just works equally well while being smaller and lighter.
The big draw of the titanium ones would b no fear of ever breaking, and as you mention they're better for the freeze dried pre packaged meals! I can see wanting a fancy durable thing over a plastic one, but the plastic still works great
I bought mine in an outdoor store, probably in Neels Gap on the AT as I had forgotten a spoon and had to go the first couple of days with an ordinary steel one. Still got it. It worked for the rest of the AT (northbound), then on the PCT and lots of other trips later. 8 grams, just weighed it. Of course it can break, but I always bring a tiny pocket knife or multi tool so I can make an emergency replacement if necessary.
Jupiter! I so enjoy all of your videos, such good information. I too have the Toaks Light 650 cook pot. It annoys me that the lid never stays on and rubber bands break. I found out that the lid from a small Chock-full-of nuts coffee can fits perfectly over the cup lid and keeps it tightly on, and the plastic lid weighs nothing and you can even cold soak!
Super solid recommendations across the board. This is the kind of video that you hope all brand new backpackers stumble upon before they make a ton of dumb gear mistakes and have to rebuy a bunch of items.
For a lot of the cold / wet weather gear military surplus is a great option. Depending what you get, it might not be the most lightweight, but is super cheap and rugged.
Thanks man, you are the best! You got me into ultralight hiking four years ago. Thanks for the update, will check some stuff out! And excited for the cold soaking recipes! Favorite budget gear: The 3F UL Lanshan1 Pro tent. It is perfect, light and very high quality. Also almost everything else from 3F UL.
Because I'm not a fan of Durston, I would suggest either the Notch or Preamble from Tarptent. I used a Notch on my pct hike, and it just fits everywhere and only requires 4 stakes. I have a Preamble now, and it's a palace. I use pretty much everything else on this, much love.
I bought the Decathlon $20 fleece after seeing Jupiter mention it in another video. Super happy with it! I bought a second after burning spark holes in my first after a campfire.
Glad you like it! I've known of decathlon for a long time, they seem more popular now in hiking while back a few years ago not as known. I got to go to one of their big stores recently and it was pretty wild seeing everything in person
I own a bunch of decathlon clothes. Their puffy is a great deal - you can get down or synthetic. The only thing to be aware of is their sizing. I often have to size up, so I usually only buy their clothes at the store where I can try it on.
I own a lot of these. They're not the most durable thing in the universe, but they're really comfortable for me, so I just use them all the time at home or even at work
Ditto on the hiking poles. Ive had fancy ones and the cascades are equal if not better... carbon fiber and cork handles. Also available seasonally at costco. Also stretched beyond their suggested limit can be used for the zpacks altaplex. Ive never had a problem but i bring two resuable zip ties to fortify it using my collapsed second pole at the juncture in case exceptionally windy. For a backpack especially with women in mind ... the Gossamer Gear G4 20 - great reviews if going ultralight. 130ish usd it has really good hip belt where women are usually better at carrying weight and nice wide shoulder straps for more comfort as women have a pronounced suprascapular dip in our shoulders. It totally changed my pct going from minimized hipbelt and skinny straps...world of difference with comfort and carrying capacity. A little less than 25 oz and a few ounces lighter if not using their sit pad that comes with it. I substituted with the Gossamer Gear thin light pad cut down. Lastly, Decathlon has a small umbrella but I think only available in europe ... last year they were 9 euros. Super light and compact. If you have a friend traveling over maybe they can bring a few to have on hand....
Woah I totally forgot about the Gossamergear G4! That was actually the first ultralight pack I ever bought, back in 2013 or so. Gave it to a friend a few years later and he proceeded to hike the entire Appalachian Trail with it.
Thanks for the great video! I love saving money on gear. One note on the Decathalon Forclaz jacket is that it is slim, with very long sleeves. I bought one, but in order to get one big enough in the chest, the sleeves were about 6” too long. This is a great jacket for tall or thin people, but not for short, squatty peeps, like me.
I've learned to go with a shemag instead of a beanie + bandana + buff. They typically end up weighing less total than all three and are a lot more versatile imo. I'd only recommend doing that if your use cases don't conflict with one another though. But something I'll never go back to not using, same with a 1/8" x 20" x 60" pad.
I think your video regarding the best affordable camp gear is the BEST I have watched ! I look forward to watching MORE of your informative videos , including your actual adventure videos . I am going on Amazon to order several of your recommendations . Mary of Ontario, Canada 🇨🇦
Super helpful. Am considering those dance pants. I’m not a thru hiker yet, but am always backpacking and am tackling the John Muir Trail this year. Can’t decide on rain gear. Perhaps frog toggs and duck tape it is. Another budget and very good brand is hiking buddy trekking poles. They come in a huge variety of colors, cork handles, all of the baskets, sack, etc. I’ve hiked with them for many hundred miles. Not affiliated. Just like them. I also like the BRS stove. No fail ever. Looking forward to cold soak recipes. All I know is oatmeal, knorr and couscous. Bleh.
The wind pants also good for buggy sections, depending on when you hike the JMT this could be valuable. Also tons of people hike the PCT with froggtoggs, so if you go that route know that you are in good company.
I added DWR to my Body Wrappers to make dual use wind/rain pants. Better than the Talenti jar is the same-sized jar from Litesmith. It has no annoying grooves and bumps than make cleaning difficult, and the plastic is more stable and stuff doesn’t stick to it as much.
Carrying duct tape: Cut a flat strip from the side of a plastic milk carton. Size ranges from about 4” to 6” long, and 2” wide. Wind a long strip (10’-30’?) around the strip. Flexible, and packs flat. Courtesy of Half Vast Flying
For those considering hammock camping, woot has a great deal on a complete setup from OWL right now. $30 for everything, including tarp and bug netting. I've had mine for 2 years and am only getting the new one because I need the tarp and netting. Really quality stuff
You hit us with the decathalon fleece, but I am curious your opinion of Cuddl Duds Clmate Right fleece pants and tops. They are very cheap at walmart, but there are now some dfferent thicknesses. The one that a hiker video suggested was the light fleece ones. I think they are like ten bucks or so.
ahhh Yes, that's who turned me onto them like 4 years back. I generally can't find them at the store, but have to order them from the website@@JupiterHikes
I’ve used a Dairy Queen spoon for my hiking kit for a while now. Long handled, free with a meal, never weighed it but not going to worry if I ever break it and need to replace it.
Frog Toggs are clutch. A Bandana is a multitool - a shemagh is even better. I'm a cold = baselayer, warm = commando kinda guy. Not sure I could legally freeball those wind pants lol. maybe
Love your recommendation of the Xmid 1. The feature that I am going to lean on is setting up I the tarp without the inner. This way I get to challenge myself with tarp sleeping, with the ability to put up the inner if it gets too dangerous. My choice was the Xmid 2p Solid, because I hike with my pups and it should be a better tent for the cold
@@tamie341This is where we disagree. Budget gear (to me) is not just about the cheapest gear available, but quality gear at a cheap price that is made to last. It is my opinion that 230 for xmid is a much better value than 130 for lashan. Comfort is also a factor, as is weather proofing. Otherwise the best budget tent would be a tarp. I personally think someone would spend more having to repair the lashan, but perhaps that is my bias.
So many great tips and ideas! Backpacking just doesn't have to be complicated, as you show so well. My go to water treatment for 25-years has been plain, household bleach. Most city water is chlorinated so it "tastes like home"! 2-4 drops per liter and wait 30 minutes. It's available everywhere, even gas station stores, and I just use an old eye dropper bottle. ☮❤🤝
Im on a thru hike right now, and this is more like a body maintenance type of gear. Some call it a luxury item, me and my tramily think it’s an essential! A cork massage ball. Ultralight and about $1.50 of Temu. I roll out my feet every night and it has significantly changed my foot health and ability to heal overnight. I can’t imagine not having it, and I thought I lost it the other night and panicked! Definitely worth it!
Sweet! I have one of those I got from garagegrowngear, haven't brought it on trail but use it in home life. I think my partner is going to bring it on our next hike though as she uses it a lot more than I do. Trekking poles can also be good to smush out sore muscles!
Cheaper beanie I’d recommend is a military polartec 100. Usually find them for about $10 come in green tan and black. Stick to the sawyer. Platypus one was junk. Love my granite gear pack. Got the mass drop I think it’s just called drop now but their version of the crown 60. Think I only paid like $120 for it?
My favorite budget gear because I am really tall at 6’ is a bag/quilt from 2Go Systems called Therme. Its down with a thermal layer and can be used as a bag or quilt or hammock pod. When I took the cordage for hammock use off it’s about 31 oz in a Sea to summit sil compression sack. This bag costs $125 and is a US cottage company I only discovered by looking for big and tall gear for my husband. It’s great for me as a beginner and I can’t really decide if I want a quilt or not. So it’s a great option for me while I’m a newbie and maybe longer too. Temp rating is good too 10 degrees for survival rating.
I loved the snow drama while you were filming! You're a trooper! You've proven that anyone can backpack on a budget. I suppose the budget items I use most are hoodies, puffy jackets, and shirts from Amazon. Just as good as name brands, but less expensive.
Cant go wrong with a Durston. Have 2 of them. The Durston X-Mid PRO 2p (used it for about 3000miles including pct) and the Durston X-Mid 1p (sil-poly) use it a lot for winter camping when crosscountry skeeing here in sweden. Gonna bye the new X-Mid PRO 2p+ for me and the wife! It has a different cut fixing the problem some people have with the Walls sleeping two in it. Awesome
Discovered your channel and I love it! Just reached the peak of my first 14er (Shavano) with some of the items in this video. Appreciate the recommendations for the budget conscious adventurers.
Love the Cascade Mountain Tech poles. Saw a couple people snap their nice Black Diamond/Leki poles along the LT but my 'cheap' poles held up just fine. I'm sure they'll break eventually but there's no way I'll spend big money on poles ever again. Thanks Jupiter, huge fan!
What a fun video, thanks Jupiter. After following you for years I still have some of your recommended items and others I have moved to more expensive. It's always a trade btwn a $38 flashlight and a $3 one. One you loose and cry. The other you loose and cry or turn around and look for it. Oh, what about ear buds. Thanks again.
@@JupiterHikeswill try! Hot Springs to max patch then back again, and then I'll pass out some hot dogs or something at one of the crossings for any thruhikers that pass by. Thanks again
Great content and recommendations- really appreciate your no nonsense and straightforward approach to gear. Also love your ability to queue up the bald eagle making an appearance (3:13). Keep up the great work - truly appreciated!
I have the decathlon fleece shirts and I have to give them great praise! Super cheap, very light, and keeps me warm when I'm backpacking as well as snowboarding.
My best budget item is a snow stake that I got from MEC in Canada for about $3 that I use as a trowel (Bulldog brand made in UK). Now discontinued but it looks similar to MSR snow stakes which are sold in packs of 4. Had to wait till the end but glad you finally reacted to the weather!
Thanks for a great video Jupiter, I really agree with all of this, I’m hiking the PCT starting in a little under 2 weeks and have a few of these items. I started using the Platypus quick draw last spring and it is amazing. If you follow the instructions for preparing the filter for use it will filter 3L of water per minute and it is extremely easy to back flush and clean. The Durston x-mid is another item in my pack. It’s light, easy to set up and has two vestibules that have easy access to the interior cabin due to the displacement of the trekking poles. I also picked up the Cascade mountain tech poles for $24 at Costco last spring and they have performed flawlessly. And lastly to wrap it up is my ULA backpack which is very well made and their customer service is top notch.
Great video with many helpful suggestions esp the items for multiple uses. I'll give another vote for Darn Tough socks - they are not inexpensive but they are available in different thicknesses, length (ankle, calf, knee), & lots of colours & patterns. I recently sent in 3 pr of socks with holes in toe (usual spot near big toe) or thinned areas from contact with interior of hiking shoes -- Darn Tough sent me 3 new prs so I'm good to go for another few years :) Happy hiking!
It's mostly used by thru hikers. People who are doing the 2,653 mile Pacific Crest Trail, or 2,200 mile Appalachian Trail for instance. When faced with such a great distance a few things happen that aren't usually as applicable to shorter trips. It becomes very difficult at times to find more fuel when you run out, it becomes a chore to actually cook each night when you're just getting more and more tired after months of hiking, and weight of your pack becomes even more important as you are fighting to stay healthy! Cold soaking is also good for efficiency beyond just the ease of use, or lighter weights. So people going for very big mileage days will often choose it as they can 'cold soak' much simpler and faster than they would be able to cook. Anyway, it's not for everybody certainly, but a lot more people do it on the really long trails than one might expect!
Switched from Sawyer to platypus QuickDraw. Sawyer clogged up and I was going to buy a new one when I saw the platypus and thought it might be ok. I love it. Reliable and pretty fast. Hope you enjoy!
Many campers recommend tyvex or these compressible construction bags. Both items are dirt cheap and weather resistant. The tyvex can be a foot print, you can put aluminum tape of one side for cheap insulation. The compressible construction bags can line your bag and gear inside
@lauralossie3893 the problem is too much heat on the canister could cause an explosion 💥 but the Ocelot uses an extra plate to protect the canister, as well as recommending to reduce power to a third, increases boil times, but conserves fuel
I have bought four backpacks for me and my kids-all listed as used but two still had tags on them. Two had a little dirt on the bottom. Hardly used. Atmos AG 50 and 65, Exos.
Always great advice from you Jupiter. I wish some of those items were as cheap here in Australia as they are over there. I recently bought a ULA Ohm for AUD $599… much cheaper over there but by the time conversion and freight is factored in, not so cheap here! The snow was pretty, looked cold!
Adding a neck gator or "buff" has been amazing. Soaks up sweat, keeps your ears from getting sunburned, somehow keeps you both warm or cool depending on the weather. Mine is UFP fabric and I swear by it
I’ve found the Talenti plastic jars and other hard plastic containers like that to leak unless what you’re mixing is thick. I’ve just kept them in a mesh pocket on the outside of my bag though if I need to soak something.
I mostly use peanut butter jars for my cold soaking, and those don't ever leak on me! Maybe worth a shot for you if it's a concern. Peter Pan is typically the brand I'll go for, but have tried others with success as well
Decathalon are amazing. First encountered them in France over 20yrs ago. Think outdoors Walmart. Everything from windsurfers and dinghys to a fork & spoon at a reasonable $.
Thank you verry much. Super helpful :) I use a lot of stuff from Decathlon. MY favorite items are the ultra-light MT900 Trekking Pole Tent and the new MT900 ultra-light sleeping pad.
7 x 9 tarp from Borah Gear is now over $100 and you have to seam seal the ridgeline. +1 for the XMind (but do yourselves a favor and go with the Durston XMid - 2. I have the XMid - 1 and 2 in sillpoly and the X-Mid 2 Pro (dynema). they are great tents and lasted a long time. You can opt for the stargazer kit as well with makes it so you dont have to have the rain fly setup.
I am really enjoying your videos. There is a used gear shop in downtown Denver called Wilderness Exchange. I haven't gone there yet but will soon. I especially love your cold recipes as I don't really want to carry a stove. I also follow Goobs on TH-cam and he puts Nutella and peanut butter in tortilla shell. I'm 68 year young woman and am just starting to do serious hiking. Am retired and on fixed income so am excited about your budget gear video. Thank you ♥️
Love my durston x mid, however as a Canadian I wouldn’t say it’s affordable, but it’s 100% worth it. I ended up paying $500 Canadian after exchange, duty and shipping. It’s easy to set up, you can set up in the rain without the inside getting wet.
I'm a ULA Circuit man myself! About those wind pants. I'm I'm wearing a medium normally, should I get a Large size since they're women's pants? Also, I switched to bamboo spoon, fork and knife. They're cheap durable and extremely lightweight.
When I bought the wind pants I thought they were just unisex. I wear a size large and got a size large. Did I link womens specific ones? Either way, searching 'Body Wrapper Wind Pants' on amazon brings up a bunch of them,
I tried the dance pants for my last trip and it worked well for sleep pants 😄 I might give AquaMira a shot to save time. I picked up some tiny 5ml dropper bottles from Amazon for mixing. For recommendations.. waterproof gardening gloves.
Let me (and others!) know what your favorite budget hiking gear would be! And remember this is part 2! The first video talked about how to get gear for free or very cheap
The army "waffle top" ECWS is a really really warm grid fleece that can be found for very cheap. I loved mine. Mine was free, but I have seen them for as little as $5-10 at a surplus store.
I was able to get a Gossomer gear kumo for 50% off
Dirty girl gaters and a Swiss Army knife
Oxygen, it’s free and I need plenty of it 😊
The majority of my gear is much older and much heavier than yours. Having said that, it's held up really well. My Eureka Timberline tent from 2005 is still very serviceable. My North Face Blue Kazoo down sleeping bag from 2000 is just about as good as ever (had to recondition it once or twice and shift the down to be more evenly distributed in the baffles, but worth the trouble). I use the same Nalgene water bottle that my wife got during her first pregnancy (14 years ago) to have something BPA free to drink out of. I'm on my second ridge rest sleeping pad- got the first in 1993. I've had the same MSR Whisperlite stove since 1996- those things are just about indistructible. Same thing with a stainless steel MSR cook pot. I'm not prone to blisters, but I carry duct tape just in case. It's handy for a footwear blowout. Probably the most minimalist piece of gear I carry, the one way I seem to do better than you, is a pair of Xeroshoes DIY sandals- at least in warmer weather. Not sure exactly how much they weigh, but they're completely field serviceable (I can complete any repair short of them being shredded, which is unlikely given the material, in a matter of minutes with a multitool, a hole punch, and extra paracord) and they're laced in such a way that I can wear socks underneath them. Most repairs won't even require the whole punch or extra paracord. Oh yeah, a multitool is an indispensible piece of gear. I carry a Leatherman Wave that I bought back in 2000 just about every day. It can be used to repair sandles, trim nails, prepare food, as a pot grip, to pull splinters, and as a makeshift weapon among other things.
I love that he’s just sitting calmly through like a snowstorm at the end there
Looking forward to your cold soak recipes.
Yes! I've loved your past cold soaking videos and really looking forward to an updated one. 😀
Love how you dispel the myths that all gear has to be this or that brand name. Hard to debate your recommendations after thousands of miles
Bug nets are also useful for keeping critters out of your shoes at night. Yea, they get dirty but they're easy to clean.
Wow, great idea! Thanks for sharing
The dedication to sticking with this video in the snow is next level commitment to your followers! Great review and suggestions.
There is a neat trick when you have a neck gaiter that you can make it into a beanie by putting the "tube" on your head and twisting the fabric left over ontop, making the whole thing kinda look like a hourglass, and then threading it over your head once more. This way you will be wearing the neck gaiter over your head twice and the hole ontop will be closed from the twisting of the fabric.
Cool Idea !
Oh that is a great idea! I wil try that soon. Thanks!
this comment just changed my life... why has noone ever told me this before?!?
@@PIlviivliP Maybe because you dont live somewhere where this is used? I learned this from other nordic skiers in Norway
ONLY 9 years old. How to wear Buffs th-cam.com/video/e-dE3WFaObk/w-d-xo.html
I think I look most forward to your videos because you have such a great depth of practical experience, your comments are no-nonsense, and you seem like a genuine dude. But more than anything, I think you’re a magician because your pack is always so small and you pull out so much. One of these days you’re going to pull out a kayak and I won’t be surprised. On the other hand, I put my food bag in my pack and there is no more room for anything else.
Consistently reliable and honest reviews and tips from a realistic point of view. These are all great recommendations. Thanks!
The links provided add a lot of value to the overall presentation - great for sussing out new or alternative gear. Thank you for taking the time to assemble the list 😃
hey man don't know if anyone has told you this but you're pretty cool
Hey I appreciate it!
Awwww
Bandana- to keep your neck warm, to clean your legs, and to rob a bank! Kind of makes you wonder why you’d need budget gear if you’ve got a banana. 🤔
Don't forget pre-filter silty water!
You've made a small funny typo with the banana instead of bandana. And if all you've got is a banana, then going with the most budget gear seems quite logical. Hehe.
@@014D you can also rob a bank with a banana. Think about it.
You need a bandana and a banana to rob a bank. Make sure to wear baggies for your banana.
@@ThanatosWings having both a banana and a bandana is over budget!
Perfect timing!! Would love a cold soaking recipes video 🙏
Jupiter has a couple already from a few years ago.
Always interesting, Jupiter. Your attitude towards hiking, gear, attitude on the trail, and your sheer joy of being out there, make your videos so worth while. Thanks.
I really like the way weight is displayed. Also in metric as Oz I have to translate in my head and it's too slow.
Nice man. I am a hiker and i dont care about gear. I use Fun-park plastic ponchos. I take 3 for a total weight of about 4OZ. Entirely wind proof/ water proof, and I don't do long hikes, just massive 24 hour ones.
You can also use a thin fabric neck gaiter for the desert.
It helps protect against the sun and heat.
And you can also put some water on it and it will help cooling you down.
Evaporative a/c twas a thing in olden days
First time ever trying trekking poles I bought the Cascade. Love them, cork handles, tip protectors, snow basket, serviceable and good positioning locks. I got aluminum on purpose because carbon fiber can be brittle in cold temperatures. I fell on snow and bent the bottom section. Bent it back and still going.
Outstanding list! One tent that has seriously impressed me is the regular ol' Lanshan 1 with the solid inner. I am a serial modifier of my gear and its the first tent (even out of $800 DCF tents) that I haven't found a niggle that I have felt that I needed to modify. I am going back to hike the CT again this summer and I am going to bring the Lanshan
Bald eagle flying in the background at 3:12!
Yeah! I saw about 7 different ones while recording!!
I noticed that too
Hahaha me too!
FREEDOM 🦅🦅🦅🦅
Finally! Someone recommends a plastic spoon. I actually have one of the long handle metal spoons that everyone else buy, but it mostly stay home. I see it's useful if you mostly use freeze dried meals directly from the packaging. For me who basically use cheaper meals I eat from a pot a plastic spoon just works equally well while being smaller and lighter.
The big draw of the titanium ones would b no fear of ever breaking, and as you mention they're better for the freeze dried pre packaged meals! I can see wanting a fancy durable thing over a plastic one, but the plastic still works great
A Titanium spoon can double as a tent steak. Don't ask
Yeah I used a plastic spoon until it snapped on me and left me with nothing. Of course there's different kinds of plastic.
I bought mine in an outdoor store, probably in Neels Gap on the AT as I had forgotten a spoon and had to go the first couple of days with an ordinary steel one. Still got it. It worked for the rest of the AT (northbound), then on the PCT and lots of other trips later. 8 grams, just weighed it.
Of course it can break, but I always bring a tiny pocket knife or multi tool so I can make an emergency replacement if necessary.
Jupiter! I so enjoy all of your videos, such good information. I too have the Toaks Light 650 cook pot. It annoys me that the lid never stays on and rubber bands break. I found out that the lid from a small Chock-full-of nuts coffee can fits perfectly over the cup lid and keeps it tightly on, and the plastic lid weighs nothing and you can even cold soak!
Hey that's an awesome tip!! I'll have to look out for that coffee brand
Super solid recommendations across the board. This is the kind of video that you hope all brand new backpackers stumble upon before they make a ton of dumb gear mistakes and have to rebuy a bunch of items.
For a lot of the cold / wet weather gear military surplus is a great option. Depending what you get, it might not be the most lightweight, but is super cheap and rugged.
Could not disagree more. Military surplus is CRAP.
@@jhonyermosome of it is, some of it isnt. You have to know what to look for
@@gigglewumpus this
Thanks man, you are the best! You got me into ultralight hiking four years ago. Thanks for the update, will check some stuff out! And excited for the cold soaking recipes!
Favorite budget gear: The 3F UL Lanshan1 Pro tent. It is perfect, light and very high quality. Also almost everything else from 3F UL.
Because I'm not a fan of Durston, I would suggest either the Notch or Preamble from Tarptent. I used a Notch on my pct hike, and it just fits everywhere and only requires 4 stakes. I have a Preamble now, and it's a palace. I use pretty much everything else on this, much love.
I bought the Decathlon $20 fleece after seeing Jupiter mention it in another video. Super happy with it! I bought a second after burning spark holes in my first after a campfire.
Glad you like it! I've known of decathlon for a long time, they seem more popular now in hiking while back a few years ago not as known. I got to go to one of their big stores recently and it was pretty wild seeing everything in person
I know I adore mine. And the thing was so wonderfully priced.
I own a bunch of decathlon clothes. Their puffy is a great deal - you can get down or synthetic. The only thing to be aware of is their sizing. I often have to size up, so I usually only buy their clothes at the store where I can try it on.
I own a lot of these. They're not the most durable thing in the universe, but they're really comfortable for me, so I just use them all the time at home or even at work
Ditto on the hiking poles. Ive had fancy ones and the cascades are equal if not better... carbon fiber and cork handles. Also available seasonally at costco. Also stretched beyond their suggested limit can be used for the zpacks altaplex. Ive never had a problem but i bring two resuable zip ties to fortify it using my collapsed second pole at the juncture in case exceptionally windy. For a backpack especially with women in mind ... the Gossamer Gear G4 20 - great reviews if going ultralight. 130ish usd it has really good hip belt where women are usually better at carrying weight and nice wide shoulder straps for more comfort as women have a pronounced suprascapular dip in our shoulders. It totally changed my pct going from minimized hipbelt and skinny straps...world of difference with comfort and carrying capacity. A little less than 25 oz and a few ounces lighter if not using their sit pad that comes with it. I substituted with the Gossamer Gear thin light pad cut down. Lastly, Decathlon has a small umbrella but I think only available in europe ... last year they were 9 euros. Super light and compact. If you have a friend traveling over maybe they can bring a few to have on hand....
Woah I totally forgot about the Gossamergear G4! That was actually the first ultralight pack I ever bought, back in 2013 or so. Gave it to a friend a few years later and he proceeded to hike the entire Appalachian Trail with it.
Thanks for the great video! I love saving money on gear. One note on the Decathalon Forclaz jacket is that it is slim, with very long sleeves. I bought one, but in order to get one big enough in the chest, the sleeves were about 6” too long. This is a great jacket for tall or thin people, but not for short, squatty peeps, like me.
I am tall and squatty :o I wonder how it would fit me. Thanks for the tip for others!!
I've learned to go with a shemag instead of a beanie + bandana + buff. They typically end up weighing less total than all three and are a lot more versatile imo. I'd only recommend doing that if your use cases don't conflict with one another though. But something I'll never go back to not using, same with a 1/8" x 20" x 60" pad.
I think your video regarding the best affordable camp gear is the BEST I have watched ! I look forward to watching MORE of your informative videos , including your actual adventure videos . I am going on Amazon to order several of your recommendations . Mary of Ontario, Canada 🇨🇦
Super helpful. Am considering those dance pants. I’m not a thru hiker yet, but am always backpacking and am tackling the John Muir Trail this year. Can’t decide on rain gear. Perhaps frog toggs and duck tape it is. Another budget and very good brand is hiking buddy trekking poles. They come in a huge variety of colors, cork handles, all of the baskets, sack, etc. I’ve hiked with them for many hundred miles. Not affiliated. Just like them. I also like the BRS stove. No fail ever. Looking forward to cold soak recipes. All I know is oatmeal, knorr and couscous. Bleh.
The wind pants also good for buggy sections, depending on when you hike the JMT this could be valuable. Also tons of people hike the PCT with froggtoggs, so if you go that route know that you are in good company.
Granite Gear’s collapsible bucket is amazing, so many uses!
I added DWR to my Body Wrappers to make dual use wind/rain pants. Better than the Talenti jar is the same-sized jar from Litesmith. It has no annoying grooves and bumps than make cleaning difficult, and the plastic is more stable and stuff doesn’t stick to it as much.
3:13 is that a bald eagle flying in from the left side of the screen??
It is! I saw a bunch while filming. Dunno why they were all hanging out together but I think I counted upwards of 7 that were flying around my area
He grabbed the 🦅 and turned it into socks.
Carrying duct tape: Cut a flat strip from the side of a plastic milk carton. Size ranges from about 4” to 6” long, and 2” wide. Wind a long strip (10’-30’?) around the strip. Flexible, and packs flat.
Courtesy of Half Vast Flying
Perfect. Why wrap around your trekking pole in the weather and rain and sun. Your suggestion is perfection
For those considering hammock camping, woot has a great deal on a complete setup from OWL right now. $30 for everything, including tarp and bug netting. I've had mine for 2 years and am only getting the new one because I need the tarp and netting. Really quality stuff
You hit us with the decathalon fleece, but I am curious your opinion of Cuddl Duds Clmate Right fleece pants and tops. They are very cheap at walmart, but there are now some dfferent thicknesses. The one that a hiker video suggested was the light fleece ones. I think they are like ten bucks or so.
I've looked for these at Walmart but haven't seen them in the past, so it slipped my mind! Old friend Neemor used to love them tho
ahhh Yes, that's who turned me onto them like 4 years back. I generally can't find them at the store, but have to order them from the website@@JupiterHikes
I’ve used a Dairy Queen spoon for my hiking kit for a while now. Long handled, free with a meal, never weighed it but not going to worry if I ever break it and need to replace it.
thank you Jupiter. great advice overall, especially the Rovyvon flashlight. 🙏
Frog Toggs are clutch. A Bandana is a multitool - a shemagh is even better. I'm a cold = baselayer, warm = commando kinda guy. Not sure I could legally freeball those wind pants lol. maybe
crazy how the weather changed in such a short amount of time - great gear advice too, def getting the s2s bug net and the flashlight
Yeah! By the end of recording this I was definitely getting cold lol
Love your recommendation of the Xmid 1. The feature that I am going to lean on is setting up I the tarp without the inner. This way I get to challenge myself with tarp sleeping, with the ability to put up the inner if it gets too dangerous. My choice was the Xmid 2p Solid, because I hike with my pups and it should be a better tent for the cold
Good tent but not budget. Check out the Lanshan 1 or 2 for the best actual budget UL tents
@@tamie341This is where we disagree. Budget gear (to me) is not just about the cheapest gear available, but quality gear at a cheap price that is made to last. It is my opinion that 230 for xmid is a much better value than 130 for lashan. Comfort is also a factor, as is weather proofing. Otherwise the best budget tent would be a tarp. I personally think someone would spend more having to repair the lashan, but perhaps that is my bias.
@@NewsViewsAndTruth Lol I have both tents as well as many others, you have been convinced by hype and marketing but the actual differences arent much
@@tamie341it sounds as though you think that you're the only person with tent experience. This is very odd
@@NewsViewsAndTruth you are a clueless casual that hikes on flat trails 😂😂
So many great tips and ideas! Backpacking just doesn't have to be complicated, as you show so well. My go to water treatment for 25-years has been plain, household bleach. Most city water is chlorinated so it "tastes like home"! 2-4 drops per liter and wait 30 minutes. It's available everywhere, even gas station stores, and I just use an old eye dropper bottle.
☮❤🤝
Added bonus of bleach is with prolonged use it will whiten your teeth lol I haven't ever tried it but a lot of friends use it
Im on a thru hike right now, and this is more like a body maintenance type of gear. Some call it a luxury item, me and my tramily think it’s an essential!
A cork massage ball. Ultralight and about $1.50 of Temu. I roll out my feet every night and it has significantly changed my foot health and ability to heal overnight. I can’t imagine not having it, and I thought I lost it the other night and panicked! Definitely worth it!
Sweet! I have one of those I got from garagegrowngear, haven't brought it on trail but use it in home life. I think my partner is going to bring it on our next hike though as she uses it a lot more than I do. Trekking poles can also be good to smush out sore muscles!
Did section 1-2 of the PNT with 3FUL gear. Man it's great, light, and cheap. Highly recommend.
Thrift stores are full of still good fleece and moisture wicking shirts from past 5ks!
Cheaper beanie I’d recommend is a military polartec 100. Usually find them for about $10 come in green tan and black. Stick to the sawyer. Platypus one was junk. Love my granite gear pack. Got the mass drop I think it’s just called drop now but their version of the crown 60. Think I only paid like $120 for it?
Thanks!
Thank you!!
My favorite budget gear because I am really tall at 6’ is a bag/quilt from 2Go Systems called Therme. Its down with a thermal layer and can be used as a bag or quilt or hammock pod. When I took the cordage for hammock use off it’s about 31 oz in a Sea to summit sil compression sack. This bag costs $125 and is a US cottage company I only discovered by looking for big and tall gear for my husband. It’s great for me as a beginner and I can’t really decide if I want a quilt or not. So it’s a great option for me while I’m a newbie and maybe longer too. Temp rating is good too 10 degrees for survival rating.
Great vid! Keen to see your cold soaking recipes.
I loved the snow drama while you were filming! You're a trooper! You've proven that anyone can backpack on a budget. I suppose the budget items I use most are hoodies, puffy jackets, and shirts from Amazon. Just as good as name brands, but less expensive.
Cant go wrong with a Durston. Have 2 of them. The Durston X-Mid PRO 2p (used it for about 3000miles including pct) and the Durston X-Mid 1p (sil-poly) use it a lot for winter camping when crosscountry skeeing here in sweden. Gonna bye the new X-Mid PRO 2p+ for me and the wife! It has a different cut fixing the problem some people have with the Walls sleeping two in it. Awesome
The dance pants are a genius idea!
Looking forward to you sharing some of your cold soaking meals.
Me too! Just in the process of collecting ingredients now
Discovered your channel and I love it! Just reached the peak of my first 14er (Shavano) with some of the items in this video. Appreciate the recommendations for the budget conscious adventurers.
I love your experienced no-nonsense approach.
Love the Cascade Mountain Tech poles. Saw a couple people snap their nice Black Diamond/Leki poles along the LT but my 'cheap' poles held up just fine. I'm sure they'll break eventually but there's no way I'll spend big money on poles ever again. Thanks Jupiter, huge fan!
Sweet! Yeah we liked em too! For the price it's pretty great
Costco often has a good deal on the carbon/cork poles from CMT.
What a fun video, thanks Jupiter. After following you for years I still have some of your recommended items and others I have moved to more expensive. It's always a trade btwn a $38 flashlight and a $3 one. One you loose and cry. The other you loose and cry or turn around and look for it. Oh, what about ear buds. Thanks again.
Hell yeah. Thanks for this! First section of the AT in two weeks, this will be helpful.
Have fun on the AT!!
@@JupiterHikeswill try! Hot Springs to max patch then back again, and then I'll pass out some hot dogs or something at one of the crossings for any thruhikers that pass by. Thanks again
Nice video, i enjoyed it, thx man😊👍🏽
Do you carry any diy/myog things on your hikes? That would be interesting too🤓
Take care
My partner carries a bunch! She's made two packs, a shelter, quilt, and some miscellaneous items
@@JupiterHikesI seem to remember you carried a myog bug net that slipped over the top half of your sleeping bag, (very innovative!, very cool !!! )
Great content and recommendations- really appreciate your no nonsense and straightforward approach to gear. Also love your ability to queue up the bald eagle making an appearance (3:13). Keep up the great work - truly appreciated!
I have the decathlon fleece shirts and I have to give them great praise! Super cheap, very light, and keeps me warm when I'm backpacking as well as snowboarding.
My best budget item is a snow stake that I got from MEC in Canada for about $3 that I use as a trowel (Bulldog brand made in UK). Now discontinued but it looks similar to MSR snow stakes which are sold in packs of 4.
Had to wait till the end but glad you finally reacted to the weather!
I like carrying a scrim (also called a sniper veil) as it can fill the role of a buff, bandana, bug net and towel.
Get one that's polyester only!
Thanks for a great video Jupiter, I really agree with all of this, I’m hiking the PCT starting in a little under 2 weeks and have a few of these items. I started using the Platypus quick draw last spring and it is amazing. If you follow the instructions for preparing the filter for use it will filter 3L of water per minute and it is extremely easy to back flush and clean. The Durston x-mid is another item in my pack. It’s light, easy to set up and has two vestibules that have easy access to the interior cabin due to the displacement of the trekking poles. I also picked up the Cascade mountain tech poles for $24 at Costco last spring and they have performed flawlessly. And lastly to wrap it up is my ULA backpack which is very well made and their customer service is top notch.
Great video with many helpful suggestions esp the items for multiple uses. I'll give another vote for Darn Tough socks - they are not inexpensive but they are available in different thicknesses, length (ankle, calf, knee), & lots of colours & patterns. I recently sent in 3 pr of socks with holes in toe (usual spot near big toe) or thinned areas from contact with interior of hiking shoes -- Darn Tough sent me 3 new prs so I'm good to go for another few years :) Happy hiking!
I have been backpacking for years and this is the first time I heard about cold soaking. You got me interested.
It's mostly used by thru hikers. People who are doing the 2,653 mile Pacific Crest Trail, or 2,200 mile Appalachian Trail for instance. When faced with such a great distance a few things happen that aren't usually as applicable to shorter trips. It becomes very difficult at times to find more fuel when you run out, it becomes a chore to actually cook each night when you're just getting more and more tired after months of hiking, and weight of your pack becomes even more important as you are fighting to stay healthy! Cold soaking is also good for efficiency beyond just the ease of use, or lighter weights. So people going for very big mileage days will often choose it as they can 'cold soak' much simpler and faster than they would be able to cook.
Anyway, it's not for everybody certainly, but a lot more people do it on the really long trails than one might expect!
Together with part 1, one of the greatest UL videos in human history 😎👍
One thing about Frogg the garments are VERY sensitive to heat, so you need to be careful around heat sources, as they will melt.
Please do a cold soaking recipe video!
If you are on the larger side, foam mats don't give enough padding if you side sleep.
Switched from Sawyer to platypus QuickDraw. Sawyer clogged up and I was going to buy a new one when I saw the platypus and thought it might be ok. I love it. Reliable and pretty fast. Hope you enjoy!
You inspire me to get out into nature, without having to spend a fortune. Thanks for sharing quality information!
Many campers recommend tyvex or these compressible construction bags. Both items are dirt cheap and weather resistant. The tyvex can be a foot print, you can put aluminum tape of one side for cheap insulation. The compressible construction bags can line your bag and gear inside
14:11 where did you get the pokemon tyvek, it looks amazing ;) keep up your amazing videos, you ve been a great guide on my first hikes in france
I just bought a BRS stove and Toaks 550 ~ I can’t wait to take them on trail! Thank you for all of the great gear suggestions!
Check out the windscreens for the BRS from Flat Cat Gear, I use the Ocelot, and u can double to triple ur gas burn times
@ thanks for the tip! I usually just use a piece of foil for a windscreen, but it’s not tremendously affective
@lauralossie3893 the problem is too much heat on the canister could cause an explosion 💥 but the Ocelot uses an extra plate to protect the canister, as well as recommending to reduce power to a third, increases boil times, but conserves fuel
First time on your channel and man what a gem of a video! Thank you ✌
I have bought four backpacks for me and my kids-all listed as used but two still had tags on them. Two had a little dirt on the bottom. Hardly used. Atmos AG 50 and 65, Exos.
Always great advice from you Jupiter.
I wish some of those items were as cheap here in Australia as they are over there. I recently bought a ULA Ohm for AUD $599… much cheaper over there but by the time conversion and freight is factored in, not so cheap here!
The snow was pretty, looked cold!
Picked up the Goshawk Ti multi-fuel wood-gas burner Eddy-200 from the land down under 🇦🇺🦘 shipping was $19 🇨🇦 but so worth it 👍
Adding a neck gator or "buff" has been amazing. Soaks up sweat, keeps your ears from getting sunburned, somehow keeps you both warm or cool depending on the weather. Mine is UFP fabric and I swear by it
Even if you own higher end gear . It might be great to have a budget kit to throw in a car
Nice video. Thanks :D Who did the print on your tyvek groundsheet? Looks amazing!
I’ve found the Talenti plastic jars and other hard plastic containers like that to leak unless what you’re mixing is thick. I’ve just kept them in a mesh pocket on the outside of my bag though if I need to soak something.
I mostly use peanut butter jars for my cold soaking, and those don't ever leak on me! Maybe worth a shot for you if it's a concern. Peter Pan is typically the brand I'll go for, but have tried others with success as well
Thank you! This is super helpful, and I had to pause to comment that I'm very interested in a possible cold soak recipe vid! Thanks again:)
Great suggestions! Love the xmid tents too.
Decathalon are amazing. First encountered them in France over 20yrs ago. Think outdoors Walmart. Everything from windsurfers and dinghys to a fork & spoon at a reasonable $.
Thank you verry much. Super helpful :) I use a lot of stuff from Decathlon. MY favorite items are the ultra-light MT900 Trekking Pole Tent and the new MT900 ultra-light sleeping pad.
7 x 9 tarp from Borah Gear is now over $100 and you have to seam seal the ridgeline. +1 for the XMind (but do yourselves a favor and go with the Durston XMid - 2. I have the XMid - 1 and 2 in sillpoly and the X-Mid 2 Pro (dynema). they are great tents and lasted a long time. You can opt for the stargazer kit as well with makes it so you dont have to have the rain fly setup.
I love tenkara fishing and do a lot of day hikes to get to streams, getting into backpacking this year! X-Mid seems awesome
Sweet me too! Couple years ago I got really into tenkara, super fun and minimal
I am really enjoying your videos. There is a used gear shop in downtown Denver called Wilderness Exchange. I haven't gone there yet but will soon. I especially love your cold recipes as I don't really want to carry a stove. I also follow Goobs on TH-cam and he puts Nutella and peanut butter in tortilla shell. I'm 68 year young woman and am just starting to do serious hiking. Am retired and on fixed income so am excited about your budget gear video. Thank you ♥️
Everyone is on a fixed income...
Great video! Very practical and helpful. Also looking forward to a video on cold soaking.
Have you tried 32 Degrees apparel? They have lightweight packable jackets etc and are very affordable
Yeah! I've owned a couple of their things over the years. Not the lightest but it is very nice for the price
Love my durston x mid, however as a Canadian I wouldn’t say it’s affordable, but it’s 100% worth it. I ended up paying $500 Canadian after exchange, duty and shipping. It’s easy to set up, you can set up in the rain without the inside getting wet.
What is the sweatshirt you are wearing in this video? Love the content looking forward to the next video!
I am wearing a Marmot rain jacket that I got at a thrift store, I think it's discontinued. And underneath that I have a melanzana fleece sweater
Hey Jupiter would you ever do any bike packing ??
Yeah I'd love to! I got the gear for it, just always wind up going hiking instead lol
I'm a ULA Circuit man myself! About those wind pants. I'm I'm wearing a medium normally, should I get a Large size since they're women's pants? Also, I switched to bamboo spoon, fork and knife. They're cheap durable and extremely lightweight.
When I bought the wind pants I thought they were just unisex. I wear a size large and got a size large. Did I link womens specific ones? Either way, searching 'Body Wrapper Wind Pants' on amazon brings up a bunch of them,
Night Cat!!! Now thats some true budget gear and they make some pretty awesome stuff for the price.
Hot Damn. Jupiter Thursday. I bet I will be watching this video many times.
I tried the dance pants for my last trip and it worked well for sleep pants 😄 I might give AquaMira a shot to save time. I picked up some tiny 5ml dropper bottles from Amazon for mixing. For recommendations.. waterproof gardening gloves.